Huckabee Criticized for Meth Bill

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Mike Huckabee's Republican rivals, fighting back as he surges in the presidential race, are tagging him as soft on crime because of a law he signed as Arkansas governor that gave some methamphetamine offenders more credit for good behavior.

"Mike Huckabee's solution? Early releases for meth dealers," Fred Thompson's campaign proclaims.

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Opponents also point to Huckabee's record of pardons and commutations: He had a hand in twice as many as his three predecessors combined, granting 1,033 pardons and commutations in his 10 1/2 years in office. The acts of clemency benefited the stepson of a staff member, murderers who worked at the governor's mansion, a rock star and inmates who received good words from their pastors.

He answered critics of his record on methamphetamine Thursday, singling out former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in particular.